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Attending the 2025 Thiess International River Awards in Brisbane recently was Mayor of Tweed Chris Cherry and Tweed Kenya Mentoring Program representatives Troy Green, Mike Rayner, Vicki Rayner, Tom Alletson, Mathew Greenwood, Kerrie McConnell, Bob Anthony, Sandra Zietlow and David Oxenham. Missing – Megan Dale.

The role of the Tweed Kenya Mentoring Program (TKMP) was recognised recently at the International River Symposium in Brisbane, which included the 2025 Thiess International River Prize Awards.

TKMP Chair Tom Alleston and committee member Megan Dale presented on the program and its most recent initiative, the pipeline project in Siaya, Kenya. This project has provided the region with permanent access to clean piped water.

With more than 450 delegates from around Australia and the world attending the symposium, the event was a valuable opportunity to share the successes TKMP has achieved since its launch in 2005.

The awards evening was attended by a delegation of TKMP committee members, joined by Mayor of Tweed Chris Cherry.

Former Council General Manager Mike Rayner, who was instrumental in establishing TKMP, had the honour of addressing the awards audience. He shared background on the program, highlighted key achievements and issued a call to action for organisations and councils to consider similar initiatives.

The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the 2025 Thiess International River Prize, awarded to the Friends of the Chicago River for their transformative restoration of a polluted waterway into a clean community asset and thriving habitat.

There is no doubt Africa has left a lasting impression on all the members of the Tweed Kenya Mentoring Program group who had the opportunity to see just what a difference the program has made to the Kenyan locals.

While in Kenya, the TKMP delegation including Kenyan-based project manager Olita Ogonjo, met with the Water Minister Professor Jacqueline Oduol, a Member of the County Assembly David Ratang and SIBO Water Company engineers.

But it was their interaction the locals, young and old, which really provided a clear picture of just how much TKMP has changed the lives of so many people.

The group concluded their African safari visiting the Masai Mara nature reserve, one of the biggest in Kenya and then on to reserves at Nakuru and Amboseli before heading to Tanzania and visiting Tarangire and Serengeti National Parks and the Ngorongor Crater.

For each of the Tweed Shire Council staff – the trip held something special and unique.

Nigel Dobson (TKMP group leader, Senior Engineer – Construction)

Returning to the Obambo- Kadenge village was a bit like going home – familiar and very welcoming.

It was amazing to see the joy in peoples’ faces when they saw me after so many years. For them it was a reminder they aren’t forgotten or alone in their difficulties.

For me, it was a harsh realisation that I only step into their world for a brief moment before returning to luxuries of electricity, showers and kitchens.

The new piped water project has created genuine excitement throughout the village and the hope of a better future.

Many thanks to the TKMP contributors for making this project possible. Please don’t underestimate the difference you have made in the lives of the Obambo-Kadenge people.

Ray Musgrave (Acting Manager Development Engineering and Land Development)

There were just too many highlights. I can honestly say that the trip was a life changing experience for me and an adventure that I will never forget.

To witness first-hand how the TKMP has changed the lives of the village residents and local schools was incredibly uplifting.

The stories from local women explaining how access to potable water had improved the health of their children and reduced the many kilometres each week that they had to carry 25 kg jerry cans were so satisfying.

To see the extreme poverty and hardship experienced by the people of Siaya was confronting but this was balanced by the happy and content attitude of the locals.

To have a 10-tonne bull elephant stare us down whilst we stood silently in our Landcruiser troop carrier (shaking in our boots) was an amazing experience. The bull elephant was making sure his herd safely walked away from our vehicle.

If anyone in Australia complains to me about their water being turned off for a few hours or their garbage not being collected on time, I will be strongly suggesting to them that they jump on a plane a spend a month in Africa. Australia is the lucky country.

Megan Dale (Engineer – Asset Management)

To summarise a 4-week jam-packed trip to Kenya in a couple of sentences is hard work but I’ll try!

I was unsure about travelling to Kenya at the beginning, but joining the group turned out to be one of the best choices I’ve ever made.

Interacting with the children at the orphanage, connecting with the incredible women of the village, and encountering some of Africa’s most dangerous animals up close all contribute to a transformational experience.

A particular highlight was the warm welcome we received in the village. My time with Aunty Prisca was something truly special, unlike anything a typical tourist could experience. She called me 'daughter', taught me how to make chapati, and even asked me to plant a tree in her yard so she could remember me as it grows.

Another unforgettable moment was witnessing a group of lion cubs during our safari – it was simply too much cuteness!

Kerrie McConnell (Events, Filming and Sponsorship Officer)

It was an adventure like no other – a once-in-a-lifetime experience shared with colleagues who will always be referenced as my ‘safari family’.

I felt so connected to the community, if only for a short time.

I failed to learn much Swahili; had quite the experience climbing out of precariously bogged safari vehicle and survived the Kenyan roads and drivers – quite the adrenaline fix.

Took a breathtaking balloon flight over the Masai Mara nature reserve and had up close encounters with wildlife and saw amazing landscapes.

On my return I am seeing things through a different lens and will be practising more gratitude.

View the delegations' photos.

Opportunities for the Tweed Kenya Mentoring Program (TKMP) tour group to meet people who have benefitted by the program has added to the list of highlights of the 2024 Kenyan trip.

Travelling to Siaya, approx. 320 km from Nairobi in western Kenya, the TKMP delegation was able to see first-hand what the project has been able to deliver over many years since its inception in 2005.

Siaya sits almost on the equator and TKMP has been providing fresh, clean water to 4 rural villages in the area through its freshwater kiosks which use state-of-the-art water filters produced in the Tweed.

Recently, TKMP has worked with Nyadiwa SIBO Water Company to bring permanent piped water to more than 18,000 residents in the area.

The TKMP delegation, including Kenyan-based project manager Olita Ogonjo, met with the Water Minister Professor Jacqueline Oduol as well as a Member of the County Assembly, David Ratang, and SIBO Water Company engineers.

They also inspected some of the water infrastructure and enjoyed a great exchange of knowledge and ideas on producing water for the community and how to pay for the infrastructure.

While in the Siaya district, the delegation visited 3 schools – Kubar, Ochillo and Obambo. At each school, the group was given a warm welcome and learned what a difference TKMP had made.

At Kubar school, TKMP has been involved in a series of projects since 2012 which have included laying of new concrete classroom floors, installation of water tanks and construction of a toilet block. This culminated in the installation of an additional 2 × 5000 L water tanks in 2022.

Since these additions, school attendance has risen and grades have improved with children not having to leave class to walk to a nearby dam to retrieve drinking water.

Ochillo Junior School students provided a musical welcome for the visitors as special guests. The school has benefitted from a Safewater project since in 2010. An interesting benefit of this school's access to safe water, has been its ability to host inter-school sports carnivals for the area.

At Obambo, the school assembly gathered to thank the delegation for the work which TKMP has put in over the years which included installation of a water tank in 2012 and a series of water and sanitation initiatives. Permanent piped water has now reached the school boundary and will soon be connected.

The visit to the Siya region has allowed local community members to express their thanks for the support shown through TKMP, many enjoying having piped water for the first time.

One elderly lady told the group she would be able to shower standing up rather than bending down over a bucket of water.

Another woman told Nigel she was a beneficiary of the Safe Water 1 project and now has 3 children who will be able to access piped water.

With official duties concluded, the group are on safari in the Masai Mara nature reserve, one of the biggest in Kenya and then on to National Parks at Nakuru and Amboseli before heading to Tanzania.

View the photos from the latest delegation trip to Kenya.

Making new friends and strengthening ties between Kenya and the Tweed have been some of the key aims of the Tweed Kenya Mentoring Program tour group who are visiting the African nation.

After an exhausting 32-hour journey from the Tweed to Nairobi via Dubai, the group lead by Senior Engineer – Construction Infrastructure Delivery Nigel Dobson, Council staff, Kerrie McConnell, Ray Musgrave and Megan Dale and Nigel’s family, wife Tiffany and daughters Tiella and Sharla, Kerrie’s daughters Hannah, Ambria and Matilda and Ray’s wife Amanda finally checked into their accommodation into the city.

With plenty to see and do, the group have wasted no time and have visited the world-famous giraffe centre and baby elephant orphanage in Nairobi National Park on their second day.

From there, it was a 4-hour drive to Nakuru, about 160km from Nairobi. Here the group, travelling with TKMP’s Kenya project manager Olita Ogonjo, stayed at the Mission in Action Orphanage, 10 km outside the city. The orphanage was started by a Northern Rivers local.

The group took over a large amount of clothing which was donated to the orphanage, much to the delight of the local children.

No trip to Africa would be complete without seeing the wildlife and the group have been able to get up closer with some of the 'less threatening' native animals during a visit to Crecent Lake Game Sanctuary.

The group will be meeting with representatives of the SIBO water corporation who were involved in laying of the new freshwater pipeline in Siaya district and will take ownership of the pipe and water supply – a project that TKMP have been involved in bringing to fruition.

Nigel said that there have been many highlights so far on the trip, from seeing the African wildlife up close to appreciating how the local community can do so much with so little.

One thing he did say is that everyone now has a new appreciation of the Tweed Shire road network.

View the photos from the latest delegation trip to Kenya.

The SIBO Obambo Piped water Extension Project opening ceremony was held in late June 2024.

The project saw the laying of a 7 km water pipeline bringing water to more than 18,000 people in the Obambo area of western Kenya.

General Manager Troy Green submitted the following on behalf of the Tweed Shire Council and Tweed Kenya Mentoring Program.

The following is a message from the General Manager, Tweed Shire Council – Mr Troy Green:

It is with great pleasure that I greet those members of the Siaya community gathered here today on the occasion of the opening of the SIBO water pipeline extension project.

On behalf of the people of the Tweed Shire, our Mayor, Councillor Chris Cherry, the members of our Tweed Kenya Mentoring Program steering committee, Chair Tom Alletson and staff contributors to the Tweed Kenya Mentoring Program, I convey our warm regards and sincere congratulations for the wonderful community effort that has led to the completion of this water pipeline extension.

There are many of us from the Tweed Shire who are very proud of the outcome that has been achieved through this project.

The Tweed Kenya Mentoring Program, led by Mr Olita, has been working on water issues within the Siaya locality since 2007

The issues of limited access to safe water in Siaya were first bought to our attention by Mr Olita at a time when we gained access to the filter technology that has been used in the Tinga, Manyasi, Gona and Ochillo safe water kiosks.

A number of people here at Tweed Shire Council believed we should take the chance to use our expertise and resources to assist your communities in their quest for safe water.

The members of TKMP here in Australia always knew that we were making a small contribution to a very large problem, and we knew that the Safewater Kiosks and sky hydrant filters would not last forever.

But we believed that by starting the journey toward a better water future, you the people of Siaya would gain momentum, and find your own way to more sustainable and reliable, safe water access.

While we live a long way apart, our people’s lives are linked by our reliance on water, and the ceaseless effort that we must apply to maintain a safe and secure supply.

I wish to thank and congratulate all the of the people who have worked on this project and made it a success.

This includes the Member of the County Assembly, Mr David Ragen MCA, the Managing Director of SIBO, Mr Adipo, Area Chief Mr. Peter Ouma, and Area Assist Chief Mme Carmen Ayugi.

I acknowledge and thank all of the project engineers and staff who undertook design, budget estimation and construction supervision for the pipeline, and the technicians who have fitted valves and meters.

I wish to thank and acknowledge all of the village elders who have assisted with the project, and members of the the Obambo Community, Tinga and Gona SW committees who have supported both the long-term operation of the TKMP Safewater Kiosks, and the development of this new project model. 

We in Australia know that the project would not have been possible without strong community support, as well as the technical oversight by our colleagues within the County Government and SIBO.

I particularly acknowledge and encourage all young people who have shown interest in the pipeline project, and I urge you to follow up on your commitment to water, be it as a career in science, engineering or health, or as a leader within society.

I also thank and acknowledge all of the local people who have worked on the project, either by excavating the line and laying pipe or allowing access through their land.

All of this work has been essential, and we believe that the deep involvement of your community will lead to a strong sense of ownership and commitment to maintenance of the pipeline, and the water it delivers.

Here in Tweed Shire, I thank and acknowledge Mr Mike Rayner, former-General Manager of Tweed Shire Council, who in 2003 founded the Tweed Kenya Mentoring Program after a chance meeting with Mr Olita.

These 2 men shared a passion for people's well-being and water, and thus from a very simple beginning, with their inspiration, we have achieved a project that will see piped water available for the first time, to many 1000s of people in the pipeline area.

In Australia, TKMP has been funded by many Tweed Shire Council staff who have made a small regular contribution from their wages, into our project budget.

Many of our contributors have been making this donation for as long as 16 years, and we are all very proud of what we have achieved.

In addition to this, we have been blessed with the support of very generous donors by the name of Alec and Mary Peden and the Thiess Family.

Their annual financial contributions to TKMP, and in particular, sizeable contributions directly to this project, have been absolutely critical in it becoming a reality.

In addition, throughout the years that TKMP has existed, we have been helped immeasurably by the International River Foundation, who have provided our legal status.

Without this organisations profile and legitimacy, TKMP would not have gained a life of it’s own, or the results that you see here today.

We have also been supported by Health Organisation of Kenya, Sky Juice Foundation, Triangle Waterquip and local Australian community groups such as Rotary, sporting clubs and other individuals making one off or multiple donations.

Early in the life of the Tweed Kenya Mentoring Program, we realised that at its heart was the concept of a relationship between our two communities, and that this relationship grew around a shared understanding of the need for our families to be able to access safe water.

At the centre of this relationship has always been our water champion – Mr Olita Ogonjo.  Without Olita, TKMP could not have provided water at our four Safewater Kiosks for the last 16 years, could not have de-silted Gona and Tinga Dams, could not have installed rainwater tanks or toilets at any of the local schools, and certainly could not have planned and funded a water pipeline project to serve 1000s of people within this district.

Olita has shown bravery, compassion, skill, diligence, patience and great tenacity in all of his years with TKMP, and none more so than in recent months as he delivered this project, while at the same time mourned the loss of his beloved daughter Renee.

I hope you will all join with me in acknowledging Olita’s immense contribution to his community over the past 16 years of TKMP operation, and in the completion of this valuable project. Olita, please accept our deep and sincere gratitude for your effort.

As General Manager of Tweed Shire Council, and an integral member of the TKMP team for many years, it is with great pride and optimism that I once again congratulate this community for its work on the water pipeline.

 I wish you all every success in the long-term management, and continued expansion and improvement of water access in this region.

Yours faithfully

Troy Green
General Manager
Tweed Shire Council

View the photos and videos from the 2024 piped water extension opening.

Over the past 12 months, the Tweed Kenya Mentoring Program (TKMP) has been planning, funding and implementing a project that achieves a permanent piped water supply for the Kenyan communities in which we have worked since 2006.

Building on 16 years of water advocacy and community capacity building, the pipeline project results in the transition of responsibility for water provision in our area of operation to the community and Kenyan Government.

The following summary from Olita Ogonjo, our Project Coordinator, describes the work undertaken since it started in January this year.

“The Obambo piped water project was finally connected to the Nyadiwa SIBO Water Company 4’ pipeline on 25 March 2024. The new Obambo pipeline will serve over 18,000 residents living within and around TKMP’s existing Safewater kiosks and will also provide water at important community sites such as the Obambo Market, Obambo Health Center and several schools.

“The main tasks completed by the team included clearing and excavating the 7 km pipeline route, laying all the HDPE pipes, backfilling the line, connecting the pipes, installing valves and connecting the new pipeline to the Nyadiwa main supply water line. We are now preparing for waterline flushing, testing and disinfection, and finally, handing the pipeline over to SIBO Water Company for long term operation and maintenance.

“TKMP has funded and arranged all the materials, labor and logistics, with the local government water agency, SIBO, providing the company’s backhoe, which was fuelled and operated with TKMP funds.

“TKMP and the project received encouraging support from area leaders including the chiefs and elders of Nyadiwa, Usenge and Obambo. The overwhelming community support for the project was a result of the foundational Water, Sanitation and Hygiene activities that TKMP had been actively carrying out in the area since 2006.

“In addition to two weeks of backhoe work, 60 local youth and women were employed to help with manual excavation of the water line trenches, as well as laying pipes and backfilling the water line.  Cash payments made to community workers ensured that project labour investment remained directly in the local economy to help with household needs such school fees, food and medicine.

“The project has created great community excitement, and many can’t wait to start using the new piped water line. It is the first time that a piped water supply has ever reached this area. We want to thank Tweed Shire Council, the Obambo community, SIBO Water Company and the Member of the County Assembly of Central Alego for ensuring that the project came to fruition.”

Development of this important water pipeline would not have been possible without the technical and financial support of TKMP.  This includes all the volunteers from the Tweed committee, all of the Council staff contributors, our generous donors Alec and Mary Peden, and the International River Foundation.

• Program report - March to May 2024(PDF, 198KB)
• Program report - December 2023 to February 2024(PDF, 333KB)

• Program report - September 2023 to November 2023(PDF, 328KB)
• Program report - November 2022 to February 2023(PDF, 259KB)

• Program Report - June to August 2022(PDF, 282KB)
• Program Report - March to May 2022(PDF, 239KB)
• Program Report - December 2021 to February 2022(PDF, 683KB)

• Annual Report 2021(PDF, 87KB)
• Program Report - September to November 2021(PDF, 887KB)
• Program Report - March 2021 to May 2021(PDF, 192KB)
• Program Report - December 2020 to February 2021(PDF, 359KB)

• Annual Report 2020(PDF, 215KB)
• Program Report - June 2020 to August 2020(PDF, 116KB)
• Program Report - March 2020 to May 2020(PDF, 142KB)
• Program Report - December 2019 to February 2020(PDF, 139KB)

• Program Report - December 2018 to February 2019(PDF, 162KB)
• Program Report - March to May 2019(PDF, 160KB)
• Program Report - September to November 2019(PDF, 229KB)

• Program Report - December 2017 to February 2018(PDF, 986KB)
• Program Report - March to May 2018(PDF, 823KB)
• Program Report - June to August 2018(PDF, 146KB)
• Program Report - September to November 2018(PDF, 160KB)

• Program Report - October 2016 to January 2017(PDF, 786KB)
• Program Report - February to March 2017(PDF, 1012KB)
• Program Report - April to May 2017(PDF, 968KB)
• Program Report - June to August 2017(PDF, 881KB)
• Program Report - September to November 2017(PDF, 900KB)

• Program Report - July to September 2016(PDF, 900KB)
• Program Report - April to June 2016(PDF, 667KB)
• Program Report - February to March 2016(PDF, 698KB)
• Program Report - October 2015 to January 2016(PDF, 799KB)